Sunday, 24 March 2013

Top Purchases for your Motorcycling.

On both Twitter and on my blog, I asked a simple question. “What is the single best thing you ever bought for your motorcycling?”

The results are very interesting.

By far the most popular single item was heated grips, and by a considerable margin. You voted this the best item by a factor of three over anything else. I suppose this could reflect the geography of the people that answered in that most live in countries that have a colder winter. It is however surprising that more manufacturers don’t offer their own brand of heated grips, but rely instead on after-market suppliers.

Running in second place for the most bought item was a music system / speakers for motorcycles. Again, not surprising, as so few motorcycle models have these as an option. A lot of riders do like to listen to music while on the road, so again, perhaps this is an omission the manufacturers need to address.

As a surprise, in third place was after-market exhaust pipes. I didn’t see that one coming, but in hindsight, we all do see a lot of motorcycles with non-standard pipes. I suppose it is the one item most changed on some brands, especially Harley-Davidson, whose owners like the distinct noise that come with different pipes. Harley-Davidson themselves no longer sell these types of pipes that increase power and noise and I should think they regret having to stay within certain environmental criteria with their standard machines and parts. They are certainly missing out on a huge market. Many sports bike riders also like to improve performance by using race-can type exhausts.

Seen as a whole, it is accessories FOR THE RIDER that forms the largest group of purchases, with protective clothing, raingear, boots, helmets, special sunglasses, heated jackets and custom molded earplugs that some people consider are the best things they have bought for their motorcycling. We all need these types of item, but a lot of riders singled out one of these as the BEST thing they had bought.

The next largest group of items riders thought were the best purchase was accessories for their motorcycle themselves. The list of answers is below, in no particular order.....

I’d like to mention just three of these. Better headlight bulbs. Hello manufacturers, are you listening? It s a pretty poor show that riders feel the need to have to go out and buy these at all. Almost all of the bikes I have owned have had poor headlights and it seems in common with others, I too have felt the need to improve the lighting. It is a terrible state of affairs that some riders think the BEST thing they have ever purchased for their motorcycling is better headlight bulbs.

Many riders suffer from an aching throttle hand due to having to hold the throttle on their bikes at an almost fixed position, especially on long rides on open roads. Most riders suffer from this, but few motorcycle manufacturers do anything about it. Some larger bikes have cruise control and riders seem to fall into the category of loving this, or thinking it is a joke. My main touring bike, a Harley-Davidson Road King, has electronic cruise control and it is wonderful, but at the same time, I wouldn’t need it if I was commuting shorter distances. Any journey that has you in the saddle for most of the day really does need some form of throttle control, even if that just gives a few second rest and the opportunity to move your wrist around.

A final drive chain, used to transfer power from the engine to the rear wheel of a motorcycle is, well let’s admit it, pretty ridiculous. You have a critical moving part on your vehicle that needs regular adjustment and lubrication, that if not done properly can be very dangerous. Just imagine if car manufacturers did that. Even worse, riders having to resort to buying an external lubrication system such as a Scottoiler, shows what a crazy situation this is. Surely motorcycle manufacturers can come up with an in-built system to keep a part lubricated!

The remainder of the list of best buys shown above are almost all personal choices to match the style of riding that the respondents do, but perhaps the louder horn and better brake lights are also things the manufacturers should have got right in the first place.

One type of response really impressed me. Some people said their best buys were about how to improve their motorcycling in general. A motorcycle safety course stuck out as a really good response and to think that this is the best thing a some people ever bought for their motorcycling is impressive. Books about roads to ride show a hunger by some to find better riding and waterproof road maps, as selected by one rider, showed a willingness to ride in all weathers.

Of course, no survey would be complete with at least a few jokers. These responses made me laugh – a motorcycle, gasoline and a solo seat!

Okay, this wasn’t a huge survey, but it was responded to by a good number of people, so I assume it fairly reflects motorcycling. My overall conclusions from the responses are....

Manufacturers have to do better in providing good quality, safer and more comprehensive motorcycles.

A lot of people want to stamp their individuality of their motorcycling.

People don’t like to get too cold.

Interestingly, just one riders best product was to do with making themselves more visible to other road users and nobody said anything about hi-vis.

Motorcyclists spend a lot more money on after-market goodies than car drivers.

Manufacturers must keep their MSRP competitive and do so by cutting costs. Exhaust systems, windscreens, crash bars, panniers or saddlebags are all dealer installed options. By not offering ABS brakes, cruise control, heated grips or sound systems they can sell bikes for less. Not to mention freight, dealer prep and set up are all additional fees tacked on later.

This of course has created a huge parts and accessory aftermarket which allows us to upgrade, customize and farkle our bikes, making them as individual as we ourselves are. This not only helps with the initial cash outlay of buying a bike but enables us to fund our hobby a little at a time as we can afford it.

Besides, what would we do if all our bikes came finished from the factory... ride?

Great post Gary. I have a huge list of bests and think they all increase my safety, visibility and overall ride comfort. The headlight and brake light are issues I ave with my bike as well and that is another thing I would definitely ask manufacturers to do better in that area.

Gary - now I have a list of so many things I didn't know I needed until now :o)Really - did nobody mention a 12 volt plug for charging all the tech on the go, or a GPS system? Afterall, what's worse than being cold ... being cold and lost with a dead cell phone!)But truly, the only thing I really wish I had that I can't add - ABS ... (everything else is pretty much frosting,

Now we re talking about dated technology, but the headlight and the riding lights that came on my 1995 K75 were adequate. But I discovered that I liked simulated daylight in front of my machine.

I discovered that the selection of bulbs for the headlight was better in the UK and I could find much brighter options (also illegal) than in the US. The HID lights I put on the bike were a delight in rural America. And the Moto Lights followed the front wheel through the curves.

Oh, forgot to comment on the aching throttle hand. Buddy of mine bought a paddle type grip to help him out. The grip can still be used as normal but has this little paddle for your hands heal - palm at thumb - to rest on at hiway speeds.

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What is this blog about?

This blog was originally started to record a five month, 21000 mile tour of the US on my Harley-Davidson. I continue to use this blog to record my own motorcycling adventures, wherever they may be, along with my thoughts and opinions about motorcycling generally.

About Me

Having devoted most of my adult life to being a ‘company man’, the transition to the next phase of my life away from the construction industry was always going to include some challenges. Planning and then making my dream trip to explore America on my Harley-Davidson proved to be the ideal vehicle for clearing my mind of old ways of thinking and being. I rode 21,475 miles, in 27 US states in four-and-a-half months.
My motorcycling trips have continued, with journeys across much of Europe, New Zealand, North Africa and Cuba.
A few years ago, I set up and now run Tour1, which takes riders on Harley-Davidson Authorised tours across Europe. See www.tour1.co.uk.
I live just north of London in the UK.

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US Tour - My Favourites Places I Went To....

It is difficult to choose, but here is my list of the highlights of my US tour, in the order I saw them in....